Powerful Trust
Our world is rethinking our vulnerability and our response to injustice. We’ve opened our eyes, and we’re ready for a fresh season. Each year, summer arrives with the warmth of the sun, and like an old friend, welcomes us into the flurry of excitement for what is to come. While this summer is different than most, let’s not lose our expectation of what it can be. Let’s soak up all of the warmth, wisdom, and anticipation of this season and allow them to remind us that we are safe in the arms of a trustworthy God who is acting for our good even amid chaos.
TRIPLE THE IMPACT
When most of us get sick we rest on the couch, hydrate by drinking fluids out of a straw, call our doctor to get some medicine, take NyQuil, eat saltine crackers, and avoid coming into contact with people outside of our family until we feel better. It’s the basics of being sick here in America. At the Sylom Children’s Home in South Asia, however, things are a bit different.
When the rescued children get sick, it often spreads before anyone even realizes they’re not feeling well. Caretakers and teachers do their best to isolate the kids, get them fluids, and make them comfortable, but it’s a challenge when you have 10, 50, 100, or even 500+ sick children at a time. During our staff trip in April 2019, we saw this firsthand when over 400 kids were being treated for chickenpox. Medicine to help with fevers, sleeping, and healing is in high demand across South Asia and expensive, often making it difficult to treat sick children.
As you may know, one of our nighttime security guards at the Sylom Children’s Home tested positive for COVID-19 a few weeks back. Our staff in South Asia took immediate precautions by having the security guard quarantined offsite, moving high-risk children to a separate location, and having some of the children tested.
Unfortunately, over 381 of these tests came back positive for the virus and 97 children have been hospitalized.
All of the sick children have been quarantined away from the others, but we do anticipate a spike in affected children due to their large “family” size. While in most cases, children who contract COVID-19 recover well, we face the challenge of quantity and pre-existing medical conditions with the rescued children.
Since the initial construction of The Sylom Children’s Home, our team has recognized the need for onsite medical care and an infirmary. While the rooms were constructed, the interiors remain unfurnished and uncompleted, meaning that there is currently no place for sick children to recover. This summer, we’re asking you to help us complete an onsite medical center to better care for children currently housed at The Sylom Children’s Home. This project will provide two separate air-conditioned spaces for boys and girls where children can recuperate.
To give above and beyond through this project, mail us a check marked “Medical Center” in the attached envelope, or visit ChildFreedom.org/Shop to see specific needs you can meet. Thank you for your unwavering support and love for the rescued children.
WORLDS AWAY BUT CLOSER THAN EVER
28 hours of flying, 10+ hours of layovers, and several more hours of driving will take you from Greenville, South Carolina, and put you face to face with the 1,200 rescued children at The Sylom Childrens Home. It’s an 8,000-mile journey that most people will never have the opportunity to take, and the distance can make it easy to feel disconnected from the work you make possible there. We know the stories are incredible, the pictures show life transformation, and the videos bring you closer, but there’s something about physically taking action to help the children that draws you closer to them.
Our hope is that the 2020 Child Freedom 5K will do just that.
Join us as a runner, jogger, virtual runner, or volunteer in Greenville, SC on September 12th, to impact children that seem worlds away.
Last fall, over 200 people joined together at the 5K and raised enough money to fully care for 100 children for 3 months. This year we’re increasing the impact even more by offering a virtual runner option, meaning you can participate in the 2020 Child Freedom 5K whether you live in San Francisco or New York!
Mike Meilinger and his company, Meilinger Consulting, were some of our earliest supporters at the 2019 Child Freedom 5K.
Mike has always been eager to support the children at The Sylom Children’s Home through his company here in the US, and partnered with us at full force. Not only did he sponsor the 5K through his company, but he also rallied over 50 of his employees, friends, and clients to join the race and make a difference in the lives of the rescued children.
This year, Mike is even more passionate about the Child Freedom 5K. As our presenting sponsor, Meilinger Consulting is a key contributor in underwriting the event so that we can send 100% of every registration fee to the field.
He’s even committed to covering his clients’ employees’ registration fees so they can pay it forward to others in their community.
We’re continually humbled to work alongside hundreds of donors and supporters like Mike who put their trust in God and choose to go beyond themselves to help end child slavery once and for all.
If you want to be a part of this incredible community, join us for the 2020 Child Freedom 5K on Saturday, September 12th at Hartness Preserve in Greenville, SC at 8:30 AM as a runner, jogger, walker, or volunteer.
FOSTERING A FAITHFUL CULTURE
Watching the lives of the teachers, mentors, and caretakers who gently help the rescued children find trust and faith again causes us to think introspectively. This week, we encourage you to spend time in reflection about the ways you build trust in your relationships.
Am I spending quality time with the people most important to me?
Are meaningful conversations with friends, co-workers, or children a part of my daily life?
Do I allow myself to be vulnerable with those around me?
Can those I love depend on me?
Do others feel heard when I engage in conversation with them?